Quick Facts
Biography
"Roy" Winfield Harper (July 26, 1905 – February 13, 1994) was a Federal Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri. He was born in Dunklin County, Gibson, Missouri, and died in Saint Louis County, Chesterfield, Missouri.
Biography
"Roy" Winfield Harper was the oldest child of Marvin H. Harper, Sr. and Minnie Belle Brooks. He married Ruth Butt on July 30, 1941 in Missouri, daughter of Arthur and Sara Butt. His wife was born on December 31, 1913 in Mississippi County, Blytheville, Arkansas, and died February 4, 2007 in Saint Louis County, Saint Louis, Missouri. A funeral service for Roy Winfield Harper was held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 16, 1994 at Ladue Chapel located at 9450 Clayton Road in Saint Louis County, Saint Louis, Missouri. Graveside services were held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 17, 1994, at Mount Zion Cemetery in Pemiscot County, Steele, Missouri with Reverend Tom Zych officiating. Burial was on Thursday, February 17, 1994 in the Harper burial site at Mount Zion Cemetery in Pemiscot County, Steele, Missouri immediately after the graveside services.
Timeline
- 1905 (July 26) – Born, Gibson, Missouri
- 1929 – Received A.B. and LL.B. degrees, University of Missouri
- 1929–1930 – Lawyer for Shell Oil, St. Louis, Missouri
- 1931–1934 – Private Practice in Steele, Missouri
- 1934 – Democratic County Chairman, Pemiscot County, Missouri
- 1934–1947 – Member of the firm Ward & Reeves in Caruthersville, Missouri
- 1940 – Chairman, State Offices, Harry S. Truman for U.S. Senator Renomination and Election Committee
- 1941 (July 30) – Married Ruth Butt
- 1942–1945 – Served in 35th Fighter Group, U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, rising to the rank of colonel
- 1946–1947 – Chairman of the Missouri State Democratic Committee
- 1947–1991 – U.S. District Judge, Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
- 1959–1970 – Chief Judge, Eastern District of Missouri
- 1971–1991 – Senior Judge, Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri
- 1994 (February 13) – Died, Chesterfield, Missouri
Federal Judicial Service
Harper was twice appointed by recess appointment and then rejected by the United States Senate before being confirmed after the third recess appointment.
He received a recess appointment from President Harry S Truman on August 7, 1947, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri vacated by John Caskie Collet. Harper was formally nominated on November 24, 1947, but his initial term of service end on December 19, 1947, after his nomination was not confirmed by the United States Senate. Harper received a second recess appointment from Truman to the same seat the next day, this time serving until June 22, 1948, with his service terminating after the nomination was not confirmed by the Senate.
Harper received his third and final recess appointment from Truman on the same day as the second one terminated. Truman formally nominated Harper again on January 13, 1949, and this time Harper was confirmed by the Senate on January 31, 1949, received his commission on February 2, 1949. Harper assumed senior status on January 5, 1971, and served in that capacity until his death in 1994
Education
- University of Missouri, A.B., 1929
- University of Missouri School of Law, LL.B., 1929
Professional career
- Attorney, Real Estate Appraisal Division, Shell Oil Company, 1929–1931
- Private practice, Steele, Missouri, 1931–1934
- Private practice, Caruthersville, Missouri, 1934–1947
- U.S. Army Air Corps Major, 1942–1945
Judge Manuscript Information
Harper, "Roy" Winfield
- U. S. District Court, Western District of Missouri (1947–1947)
- U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri (1947–1947)
- U. S. District Court, Western District of Missouri (1947–1948)
- U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri (1947–1948)
- U. S. District Court, Western District of Missouri (1948–1994)
- U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri (1948–1994)
Missouri Historical Society St. Louis, Mo. Roy W. Harper family papers, 1950–1990. 7 boxes; collection contains case files, printed opinions, correspondence, and miscellaneous papers. The collection remained unprocessed as of August 1997.
University of Missouri and the State Historical Society of Missouri Western Historical Manuscript Collection Columbia, Mo.
Paul Caruthers Jones papers, 1943–1969; 60 ft.; finding aid; 13 folders pertaining to Harper.
Forrest Smith papers, 1940–1953; 6,658 folders, 11 vols., and 8 card files; finding aid; represented.
George A. Spencer papers, 1948–1960; 653 folders, 9 boxes, and 1 vol.; finding aid; restricted; represented.